Oklahoma Pastor Disrespected by State Legislature

13th February, 2009 - Posted by admin - 1 Comment

A Statement
from the Office of the Moderator
of Metropolitan Community Churches

CONTEXT: The Oklahoma legislature convened with a beginning prayer on 11 February.  To pray: the Rev. Scott Jones of Cathedral of Hope UCC in Oklahoma City.  Before his prayer, Rev. Jones offered the following thanks: “I want to thank my representative and good friend, the Honorable Al McAffrey for the invitation. I would also like to acknowledge guests who are present in the gallery – members of my congregation, the Cathedral of Hope, United Church of Christ. Joining them are dear friends, my wonderful parents, and my loving partner and fiance, Michael.”

Rev. Jones’ prayer included the following, liberating language: “You are our Redeemer and Liberator. Companion to the poor, You have promised to Lift up the powerless and cast down the powerful, To gather the outcasts, Heal the brokenhearted,
And bind up their wounds..” (read the full prayer)

Following Rev. Jones’ prayer, Representative John Wright called for a vote before the prayer could be added to the house logs.  20 legislators voted against its addition.  Says Representative McAffey (who invited Rev. Jones), “I’m sure that because most of Scott’s congregation are gay people and Scott is gay himself, I’m sure that’s the reason why there were negative votes on it.”  (follow this story)

Remarks by
Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson
MCC Moderator

February 12, 2009

The leadership of Metropolitan Community Churches joins me in adding our voices to the many voices of those who are outraged by the profound disrespect shown to Rev. Scott Jones of the Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ (Oklahoma City) at the Oklahoma State Legislature on Wednesday, February 11, 2009.

As with so many people of faith, we are deeply saddened by this event – though perhaps not as shocked as some. In MCC’s 40 years of ministry in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, our churches and clergy have experienced this type of mean-spiritedness far too often.

For Rev. Jones to be invited to offer the gift of his prayer to the State Legislature, only then to be insulted, created a situation that was both painful and unnecessary. What terrible harm did those legislators imagine would occur if Rev. Jones’ prayer was included in the official record of the legislature?

These types of actions are based upon an irrational kind of fear and hostility towards lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people. Sadly, some of those legislators based their votes upon their religion. This stark contradiction of people who claim to act on God’s behalf while failing to honor the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” or to emulate God’s extravagant welcome which proclaims “whosoever will may come” is a significant contributing factor to the many young people who are turned off to Christianity today.

Rev. Jones pastors a church that is a safe harbor for congregants who live in a culture of religious bigotry and hostility much of the time. The friends and members of Metropolitan Community Churches honor his courage and openness before the Oklahoma State Legislature. And we salute the 80% of the legislative body who demonstrated the good judgment and basic decency to reject the objections to his prayer. In a way, that’s progress.

Grace and peace,
+Nancy
Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches

1 Comment

John Michael

February 21st, 2010 at 8:17 am    

Why anyone would insult the prayer of a qualified spiritual leader is really sick.
God loves all of his creations.

Thank you MCC, Unitarian & UCC churches. I grew up in Oklahoma and found as a gay man thirty years ago, that I could no longer live in an environment that did not accept and understand homosexuality.
I am glad to hear that there now is a voice for the right of gay, lesbian and transgender people in Oklahoma.
I now live in Colorado, although not as open as the east or west coast. There is a growing strong voice of acceptance here. This is was the state for Admendment #2, 20 years ago. Since that time Colorado has been turning the corner with better education. Many of our high school’s now hhave gay & lesbian support groups even hhere in conservative Colorado Springs. So there is hope for Oklahoma also.

My prayer is that may god enlighten us all to unconditional love.

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